“Authority without wisdom is like a heavy axe without an edge, fitter to bruise than polish.”

―

Anne Bradstreet

==============

……… tweet from Republican National Party on June 14, 2018 ………….

Join or Else. If there is one common theme Trump and his merry band of corrupt amoral yahoos have espoused, this is it. Yeah. They may cloak it in some vapid superficial niceties, but, in the end, it “Join or Else.

That said. (stepping back to my words of January 2017)

———————————-

Well.

Yesterday was an interestingly disturbing day to begin “the new era of The United States of America.”

I listened to the Trump inauguration speech with growing horror. It had all the trappings of authoritarianism wrapped snugly in a blanket of patriotism & promises of wealth, security, strength and ‘greatness.’

I listened to it not just as a citizen but as a business guy.

Yeah. Populism can be seen in business just as it can be seen in politics. In business it can be called ‘the cult mentality’ and more often than not its leader is a ‘less-than-benevolent’ dictator. Let’s call it a ‘join, or else’ culture. You can drive membership in this culture a couple of ways … both grounded in fear.

Fear of losing <part 1>.Outsiders are trying to steal what is ours … people who don’t believe in what we believe in are trying to steal what is ours … join us because we are the people who count and matter.

I do not want to lose what is rightfully mine.

Fear of losing <part 2>.I am on the outside looking in and … well … holy shit … if I don’t join I am gonna lose everything <or be branded as a non joiner>.

I will join because if I don’t I am up shit creek without a paddle and lose what I have.

Businesses try this shit all the time. It is their way of building a strong culture, claiming it is inclusive, albeit inclusive is grounded by ‘a tight set of club rules.’ They will argue it is not a tight set but rather a basic construct which binds people in a good way … you call it tomato and I call it rotten. This Trump version of populism is, well, it goes beyond corporate cult culture. This version is close to being batshit crazy dangerous thought leadership.

Let’s look at the brochure and talk a minute with the Trump Club recruiter.

The cover of the brochure suggests an unstoppable America, driven solely by self-interest, in other words, our Club wins at all costs at the expense of anyone who stands in our way! <“if you want to win, join us” it says …>.

It further reads with threatening all those who might stand in the way of this Club and it’s winning/great objective. It contains an adamant stance of ‘no real choice’, i.e., a demanded unity not an asked for unity.

Yeah.

Some of the club benefits look awful good in the brochure … more & better jobs, stronger economy, stronger security, less business regulations and country pride. And then I turn over the brochure just to check out the legalese, the cost of the benefits as it were, to explore how the promises of the Club will be delivered.

The headline on the back of the brochure really wanted me to join this club … the message of “join today because today is the day the people become the rulers of this country.” I vaguely remember that being the call of the French Revolution but it sounds cool <although I could swear we, the people, have been voting in people as representatives for awhile>.

But. Whew. It sounds good. I like it.

It feels empowering and inspirational with the added comfort that I will no longer be one of “the forgotten people which will be forgotten no longer.” I know for sure that would like to not be forgotten and being part of a club would be nice and … well … gosh … uhm … now that I think about it … I didn’t know I had been forgotten.

The recruiter leans forward and says “of course you were, the intellectual globalist elite in Washington and around the world have been keeping you down … they don’t care about you … they have forgotten that it was you that made them part of the wealthy elite.”

Ok. But didn’t your Club President build his wealth off the backs of ‘forgotten people’ and … well … it seems like they aren’t any better off but he is a shitload better off, doesn’t it?

Oh … no, no, no … he appreciates everything they have done for him. Hey. And don’t you want to be wealthy too?

I look down at the brochure and I see the bolded ‘make wealthy’ words and have to ask the club recruiter, decked out in an ‘America first’ hat and neatly pressed ‘make America great’ uniform like shirt, I ask the recruiter … “this becoming wealthy thing … its sounds an awful lot like Amway.”

Oh, no, it is nothing like that at all. Our Club will make everything great for everyone and you will have great opportunities to get the wealth you have always deserved, but haven’t got, because the lazy, less than hard working elite will not get it anymore … we will make sure you get your fair share. Hey. Look at this picture of the Club President in his office … check out the gold curtains … the gold rug and the gold fixtures … that is wealth. That is what you can be part of!

Oh.

And, look, if you join today you get a hat <which you should wear as often as possible so that we can tell who is in the club and who isn’t>.

And, even better, we should have some additional pieces of apparel you can wear soon. In fact … we will have special uniforms & badges for the original club members to showcase their elite status in the club … everyone will want to wear them.

Ok. One last question … your club is “God’s chosen.” I didn’t know God chose … I thought he was all about equal among all men. Does this mean that other clubs don’t believe in God or does God just favor us? And does this mean I have to believe in your version of God and … well … what exactly is your version of God?

“Oh.

Well.

We are a Christian based club … but of course we accept anyone. But don’t forget … Christianity, above all, outlines all the values which lead to a better version of yourself … and, well, that is what we want all Club members to be able to achieve. Everyone should have values, don’t you think?”

Whew. This is fucking crazy shit going on

To be clear. A shitload of the club leaders and followers are going to try and draw some false comparisons and equivalents to past American heroes.

To be clear. This is significantly different than Thomas Jefferson’s plea for unity in his inaugural address in 1800 — “every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle.”

The Trump club has one principle and one opinion.

There is no room for anything else. More important than color of skin, religion, gender … this may actually be my root concern with ‘the club’.

The main principle?

Believe what I believe … or you are not a true believer.

That kind of seems to be the club. Kind of an “us versus them” attitude … uhm … although us <being a US citizen> is actually also them <being US citizens>.

“Oh no … no … why wouldn’t you believe in the United States of America if you lived in there? … everyone believes that. And if they don’t? … well … they should.”

Anyway. Oh. One last question. I didn’t hear it anywhere from the Club President or see it in the brochure … do you guys have a constitution?

Oh, we don’t need one. We just demand a ‘total allegiance to the Club’ … oh … which believes the same things as the country wants … so you should be all for it.”

(ME) Gosh. I am not sure I can join this club … I already have a constitution I live by … and my allegiance is, first & foremost, to that and not some Club and how they think. <period … end of statement>

Look. The one thing Trump was 100% right on is that January 20, 2017 was the dawn of a new era.

“Now comes the hour of action.”

That was the call for the Trump Club. “Join or else”is what should be heard.

Just to be clear.

I am a believer in God <however you want to define it>.

I am a patriot <however you want to define it>.

I am a proud American <however you want to define it>.

But I am not joining the club called “Trump America.”

In fact … I say ‘fuck you and your fucking club.’

As for what I will do? …………….

===============

“I was not born to be forced. I will breathe after my own fashion. Let us see who is the strongest.”

To me, there is a difference between gaining knowledge and having curiosity.

Curiosity is that little engine inside your ethos <soul, stomach, etc.> that keeps your mind chugging along. Unfortunately it can be maddening in that it is rarely linear and often random and can run at a variety of speeds.

Curiosity is the spark to gaining whatever knowledge you eventually accumulate.

I know I am almost always head over heels in like with smart people who are knowledgeable about a variety of things. Which typically leads to the fact I am always head over heels in love with people who are incessantly curious. People whose curiosity engine is always running.

Yup.

I admit.

I love those people.

That said. Let me spend a minute on curiosity and, specifically, never ending curiosity. Never ending curiosity is the part of someone that has recognition there is a bottomless pit of knowledge out in the world.

If you put those two things together (bottomless pit & knowledge) in your mind and get comfortable with that thought and not let the bottomless part frustrate you, you will have a lot of fun in life.

Because for everything you know there is some indefinable exponential amount of things remaining you don’t know. Drink as much of knowledge as you can and it it is still just a drop in the Great Lake. And that is fun.

Now. I have heard people in the business world say “I want to know everything there is to know on this topic.”

I have often thought that was one of the silliest things anyone could ever say.

You can know a lot.

You can know enough to be dangerous.

But knowledge is truly a bottomless pit. Even on one topic you probably don’t have enough hours in a lifetime to know everything there is. I guess that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try, but suggesting you know everything is … well … silly.

But.

Knowing what you know is good.

Knowing you could know more is … well … even gooder.

And knowing you want to know more all the time … well … that is the goodest I guess.

Anyway. Curiosity is one of the three things I tell young people is the secret to success (the other two are resiliency and character).

Curiosity is a cornerstone to personal growth (which, ultimately, is the biggest ‘success’). I believe as long as you retain your curiosity and are always seeking to learn more in the attempt to sate it then you are well on your way to being successful if not just a more interesting person.

Oh. And, of course, because this is my site, curiosity means at some point you are challenging ignorance (and becoming a wee bit more enlightened … i haven’t used “wee” in awhile and this was a good excuse).

But, hey, that’s me.

To paraphrase the Faber College <of Animal House> motto of “knowledge is good” … curiosity is good <on the infamous Bruce “good/bad” scale>.

Curiosity aids in the fight for knowledge. Mainly because curiosity leads to some version of enlightenment <another good on the “good/bad scale>.

“We are funny creatures. We don’t see the stars as they are, so why do we love them? They are not small gold objects, but endless fire.”

—

Saul Bellow

==================

Well.

Full disclosure. I love the stars. And I believe in making wishes on stars <particularly falling stars>.

I imagine that makes me a funny creature because it means I don’t see stars as they are. Maybe more importantly, I imagine that in some way that makes me a dreamer <I like that>. But. Most importantly I would like to think instead that it make me more human. One who dreams and wishes and sees possibilities of what could be seems to be about as human as a human can be. It seems pretty human to see the night sky as what can be imagined & not what just is.

Look.

Stars aren’t unicorns. Nor are they rainbows with pots of gold and all that shit. Stars are tangible in that they represent real planets millions of miles away <presumably some with somene who has dreams and wishes too>. Ok. That latter thought is intangible in that they represent life as it exists elsewhere.

Like … is there someone on that star looking at us? I don’t believe in aliens and UFOs and all that stuff but I do find it hard to believe that in the almost infinite universe of galaxies and stars and planets we are the only ones who exist. That would be … well … slightly pretentious, don’t you think?

But.

That is not really the point <life somewhere else>. Stars represent a beautiful thoughtful intangible. They represent the unknown & possibilities in little flickering lights n the night sky. I would also suggest they represent the immensity of Life.

Regardless.

Stars are not gold. They are little fires awaiting us. Awaiting our thoughts and wishes and dreams to sit nearby and warm their hands over. I like to think I have loved the stars too fondly to think of them as something as tangible as gold.

They are what could be. They are possibility. They are what we reach for … because they are what we imagine <but most likely will never attain>. In some way they represent immortality of what could be. The never ending list of wishes and things to come. The broad sweeping infiniteness of everything which lies beyond.

======================

“The insatiable thirst for everything which lies beyond, and which life reveals, is the most living proof of our immortality.”

Charles Baudelaire

======================

And maybe that’s the tricky part with stars. Infinite is, well, not for the faint of heart. Nor is it for those who thrive on destinations or even those who thrive on specific tangible objectives..

And maybe that is why I love stars & their fire so much. They embody the joy and power of the journey, the thought, and not the destination and achievement. They embody possibilities.

As I look at stars, I know I will never reach that star, but, boy, I sure do like reaching for it.

Anyway. In my mind there should be more of us ‘funny creatures’ in today’s world. More seeking endless fire rather than little pieces of gold. The good news? Every night you have the chance to be a funny creature.

When I started on this piece I wasn’t sure if it was about self, life, dreams or maybe even starting a business. Then I realized, in some weird way, it was kind of about all. How? Think “connection.” Or maybe connecting with something in a multi-dimensional way <emotionally, physically, experientially> which not only grounds us to us <our self> but has a commonality to ground us to other “us”es as well as to, well, everything <hopes, dreams, aspirations>. To me this has two aspects: stars & nothingness.

I like the thought that maybe each of us is really a star <shining brightly for something good or hopeful … within ourselves as well as possibly for someone else>.

I like the thought we spin out of nothingness as people, as careers, as thinkers and as doers, scattering to find our place in the expansiveness ahead.

I like the thought that maybe, because we really are stars, we seek them to find whatever secrets they could share about us.

I like the thought that stars can be seen by anyone, anywhere if you only look up on occasion.

I like the thought that stars connect people and thoughts and dreams and wishes and … well … anything hopeful.

I like the thought that while stars are about space they are actually more about managing space by circumventing distance to activate that which can exist between stars and people.

I like the thought that stars actually embrace the strongest business building concept thru actively engaging people in a physical way … an emotional way … and an experiential way. Stars engage us, connect with us, in a way that businesses and brands should attempt to emulate any authentic way they can <because I am not sure I can find any one person who dislikes stars>.

Regardless.

Whether we truly are stars spinning out nothingness or stars simply represent our sense of ‘nothingness to what could be’ mindset it is pretty amazing to think that anything spinning out of nothingness can inevitably create one of the greatest connections a person can ever have. Stars represent life moments stitching together all that we are and all that we want to be to form thoughts & attitudes which fuel behavior.

Stars are part of everyday lives and occupy critical space in a person’s grander Life story. They never dictate behavior, but instead inspire behavior. They do so by nudging us toward both emotional and transactional personal investments into ourselves inevitably shaping life patterns, creating behavior, and ultimately encouraging us to make personal identity statements about who we are.

Stars are the beginning, middle and end of Life. They represent life and how we live it.

They are the small cornerstones to our Life stories. Somehow they transcend the transactions we make with ourselves by resonating with something inside as well as outside the moment of ‘transaction’ with the star. And maybe most importantly? This multi-dimensional transaction we make with a star perpetuates a bond which unites, influences, inspires and scatters us out of nothingness toward, well, somethingness.

I imagine that means stars ultimately represent a connection with ‘what could, or can, be.” Stars help us answer the ultimate life question …“how do people fulfill their potential and figure out who they are and what they’re capable of?” They seem to give people a nice simple focus point which doesn’t sit there and lecture or even offer any advice, simply a feeling of possibilities.

Shit. Maybe that is all ‘Bruce-babble.’

Here is what I know for sure. We should all look at stars every once in a while:

“I take up my old pen again – the pen of all my old unforgettable efforts and sacred struggles. To myself – today – I need say no more.

Large and full and high the future still opens. It is now indeed that I may do the work of my life.

I like these words.

For anyone approaching middle age, or wading through it, they may be the most useful words anyone has written, words that if we repeat often enough we may even start to act upon.

Words that could change our lives, or the long sweet stretch of it that is left.”

==

Henry James

<wrote in his early 50s>

—————————————

“We know that greatness doesn’t come from building walls, it comes from building opportunity.”

=

Obama

<note: the original quote has “America’s” before greatness>

————————-

Well.

Yesterday I wrote about ‘no chance means no chance.’ Looking back upon it while I don’t regret the truth, or pragmatism of it, I began recognizing I kept going back to it again and again … my fingers hovering over the pragmatic side of it and the ‘delete’ key and having my thoughts hover over the hope portion with itchy fingers, and itchy mind, to write more and talk about how glimpses of ‘having a chance’ are the things that often not only get us thru the day but get us thru life.

That is the power of words. A word has the power to change the way you think about things but maybe more importantly a word … yes … a single word … has the power to change your life <because what you think often begets what you do>.

A word can surely be a wall … but more often than not … a word is a building block for opportunity. Such a small thing is large and full and … well … high the future still opens.

And while that sounds big & sweeping and maybe easily dismissed as words of a dreamer and things that are nice to think about but will never happen … I would like to point out that for almost 20 years now the internet has brought more new & different words into our lives. These words are opportunities. These little things are big and full of the future.

Because of this seeming barrage of words our lives, our culture; our minds have been forever changed. There is no going back and there is no ‘giving back.’ Words when encountered remain your companion to be hugged, bewildered by, spurned, loved and shadows you wherever you go from that moment on.

Even on the days when we shut ourselves away from people and the bustle and grind of Life there will not be a single day in which you will not interact with words.

They are your constant companion <friend or foe>.

Whole companies are now dedicated to words.

Any search engine or browser company.

Any social media company.

Shit.

Whole industries these days have been developed solely on the use and management of words.

Your words beget their words. They organize words which inevitably force you & I to consider, an reconsider, words.

This means, at the core of our lives, is one simple thing … a word.

One word at a time our life is built.

One word at a time … opportunity … a dream … a hope … is built.

This means that a word, or combination of words, is the key to everyday life. The way we interpret a word can not only change the present but impact the future. One word can … well … actually change our behavior <Amazon is the most practical tactical example of this>.

Technology has actually given a word ‘super powers’ <and they were pretty frickin’ powerful before>. a word is no longer something we simply observed & absorbed … it now has acquired a more active role in life … it creates and impacts how we interact.

Simplistically. A word is a fundamental catalyst of Life.

Anyway.

It is impossible to imagine the world without words.

A word enables us to do things that maybe seem unthinkable.

A word encourages us to think … well … we have a chance.

And, maybe most of all, while I think of a word as the small key to greatness and opportunity I continue to think of the one syllable 4 letter word that is possibly the most powerful word in any language – hope.

Whenever I wonder why I sit in front of my computer and write I remember that words not only are the only constant companion we encounter every day but they are involved in almost every aspect of our lives. In some small way maybe I think of James’ words … “today – I need say no more. Large and full and high the future still opens. It is now indeed that I may do the work of my life.”

Weigh your words carefully today my friends … and take a moment and ponder the words you encounter … for most do not build walls but offer opportunities.

The relationship between curiosity, imagination & happiness is inextricable. It’s kind of the internal engine everyone has <that just has to be gassed up & started>.

I could add productivity <actual tangible output as proof> but that’s external, in other words, how can you build anything if you cannot imagine it first?

Anyway.

Curiosity is an interesting engine with 2 main cylinders:

Having a never ending curiosity.

Recognizing there is a bottomless pit of knowledge out in the world.

If you put those two things together in your mind and just let it rest in there chugging away you will have a lot of fun in life. Because for everything you know there is some indefinable exponential amount of things remaining you don’t know <note: this can be frustrating to some people>.

That said.

I have heard people in the business world say “I want to know everything there is to know on this topic.” I have often thought that was one of the silliest things anyone could ever say. You can know a lot. You can know enough to be dangerous. But knowledge is truly a bottomless pit. Even on one topic you probably don’t have enough hours in a lifetime to know everything there is. I guess that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try, but, knowing what you know is good. Knowing you could know more is, well, even gooder. Knowing you want to know more all the time is the goodest I guess.

Anyway.

Curiosity is one of the three things <resilience & persistence are the others> I tell young people is the secret to success. As long as you retain your curiosity and are always seeking to learn more in the attempt to sate it then you are well on your way to being successful if not just a more interesting person.

I would also suggest curiosity is the secret to a business’s success.

The arc of ongoing business actions bends toward sameness & safe choice making therefore separation becomes everyone dancing on the head of the same pin where almost everyone feels compelled to try & dance in the middle of the pin head for fear of falling off. Edges are scary and, yet, where separation typically exists. I would suggest that even on a pin head the way off the mediocre middle is curiosity <which tends to guide you closer to an edge>.

—————

Everything has to do with everything else. Business is a succession of events that link with each other whether we want them to or not

Me

——————–

Beyond standing on the edge while I love discussing the rewards of curiosity, curiosity does come at a cost <just revisit Pandora’s Box if you need a reminder that curiosity often comes at a cost and, yet, offers benefit>.

Look.

In a world in which we far too often assess cost versus benefit in almost everything we do, curiosity cannot be so easily assessed. The pursuit of curiosity is not simple. It can be as often a rocky road as it can be a smooth one. As a ‘lover of curiosity’ it almost pains me to type that curiosity embodies both pain and pleasure – sometimes not equally.

Being incessantly curious translates into a constant restlessness. This can be incredibly painful to people who like construct & finishing things. they share their pain with you. In other words if you are constantly curious I can guarantee someone around you at all times will be sharing their pain with you.

The pleasure? Flying

——————-

“Come to the edge,” he said.

“We are afraid,” they said.

“Come to the edge,” he said.

They came and he pushed.

And they flew.

Appollainare

———

While you may like flying you have to be aware a shitload of people do not. If you want to fly in business you need to recognize in order for some to learn to fly they need to overcome fear. Recognize that the first step with just about everything in life contains at minimum a sliver of fear. And fear can be debilitating.

Fear creates stagnancy.

Curiosity stimulates the energy to move.

And knowledge is the tantalizing prize.

I say that because far too often we invest energy trying to overcome fear when we should be building value in the prize. I say that because knowledge has two benefits. 1st is wisdom that comes from sheer accumulation of new and different ideas & thinking. 2nd is, well, productivity. Yes. Early on in this piece I suggested it was an external factor and it is. In this case it is an output of curiosity. Not proof but just an output.

Next.

—————

“though my soul may set in darkness

it will rise in perfect light.

i have loved the stars too fondly

to be fearful of the night.”

Sarah Williams “the old astronomer to the pupil”

—————-

Keep your eye on the prize. Show people the stars are too beautiful to ignore.

All that said.

Curiosity, similar to Hope, is one of those essential intangible less-than-definable things we face in Life. I tend to believe we should think about this more often rather than simply state “being curious is good.”

To be clear.

I am a 100% curious guy and curiosity fuels me day in and day out. I would rather learn new things than eat or sleep. In general I think curiosity is good <an essential good>. I say that to suggest to my fellow curious companions that we have to assume a responsibility. A responsibility to understand that while we see the reward as worth the cost of the punishment curiosity sometimes hands out that many people just see the punishment. We need to accept the fact that, just as with the Pandora’s Box story, many people just hear of the pain & suffering that curiosity releases.

To many, curiosity embodies risk and uncertain return. We should note that this does not make the curious risk-averse wrong … just, more often than not, more pragmatic with regard to their Life.

The responsibility I bear as a curiosity lover is to understand the uncertainty many feel and not treat it with disdain but rather with hope. Hope I can show the reward. For, ultimately, if you believe the Pandora’s Box story … if there had been no curiosity there would be no Hope.

Given that choice I would release the worst of the worst to insure Hope lived on.

But it is my responsibility to not assume everyone sees curiosity as I do and understand that curiosity is sometimes a gift that needs explanation.

And maybe that is what curiosity lovers need to do. Embrace Pandora’s Box internally and externally. I know I tell Pandora’s story again and again <and again>. I do so because far too many people do not know the end. And until they hear the end they may tend to lean toward believing too much curiosity only begets pain & suffering while I, when I see curiosity, see only Hope.

Curiosity, to me, equals hope – to know something better than what I know now leading to being able to improve today with something better tomorrow.

Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer.

Let us not seek to fix the blame for the past. Let us accept our own responsibility for the future.

—-

John F. Kennedy

==========

Whew. Finally.

The last 2016 American election presidential debate. No more World Wrestling Foundation political events.

While I will say a couple things let me begin with the most important thing everyone should pay attention to with regard to the third debate — the close.

Anyone in business knows that how you close a big meeting is, well, YUGE <as Bernie Sanders would say>.

=========

Their closing statements summed it all up for me: Clinton’s was a message of hope and unification, Trump couldn’t help himself and ended on a pointless attack. Never has a candidate proven himself so utterly childlike – it’s entertaining but profoundly disturbing that he’s actually managed to make it this far.

Djozer

===============

Closing statements create the foundation for vision and attitude which ultimate blends into the behavior you should expect. Just as in what they decided to wear … I received optimism and togetherness from the lady in white and dark, despair and divide from the man in black.

I couldn’t think of better symbolism for the choice at hand.

As for the debate itself? While exhibiting moments of actual leadership lucidity, Trump continuously reverts back to some tween like persona given half a chance.

Alternative universe moments:

<1>:

“Look, she’s been proven to be a liar in so many ways,” Trump pouted.

“This is just another lie.”

<when, in fact, she spoke his own words back to him>

Parallel universe?

This after he had run thru a continuous string of lies <or ¼ truths> that fact checkers just gave up and suggested he could do nothing but lie.

<2>:

“Such a nasty woman.”

Parallel universe?

Uhm … hard to reconcile Trump’s remark with a claim he made earlier the night that “no one has more respect for women than I do.”

<3>:

“<insert anything he says here>”

Parallel universe?

Anything his surrogates say trying to explain what he said.

<note: if you are actually paying people to tell people what you really said and what you really meant you do not belong in that job>

Next.

To me the funniest moment was ‘You’re The Puppet!’ <a moment that had every small child gleefully clapping>

Background: Trump just lost his temper when Clinton suggested Russian president Vladimir Putin would like to see Trump in office “because he’d rather have a puppet as president.”

“No puppet, no puppet!” Trump interjected.

Clinton continued, “It’s pretty clear you won’t admit…”

“You’re the puppet!” Trump shouted.

“That the Russians have engaged in cyber attacks …”

“No, you’re the puppet!” Trump said again.

“Against the United States of America,” Clinton concluded.

You just cannot make this shit up. This is comedic genius <albeit part of a presidential debate>.

Next.

To me the most horrifying moment <of which there were several candidates for this slot> was the late term abortion discussion moment where Trump gave a horrifying description of ripping full-term babies from the womb <several times … it seemed like he liked saying it>.

Sigh.

I don’t care if you are pro-life or not … Trump’s foul and incorrect depiction of later term abortion was … well … horrifying.

Look.

Debates are debates and politics is messy. I don’t really care <assuming we actually get to hear the truth on occasion and ‘communication malpractice’ is kept to a minimum>. But words really do matter. Despite Trump’s seeming disdain for not only using adult words and acting like an adult when he speaks what he says is heard by millions and, whether they agree with him or not, those same millions at least ponder them as some semi credible thought <because, for god’s sake, he is the nominee of one of the 2 parties>.

We have heard him diminish people, groups of people and religions of people, we have heard him call Clinton much worse than a “nasty woman”, we have heard him espouse a creative array of conspiracy theories <presented as fact> and we have heard him offer a safe haven for the rage of anyone who believes America is not the America that they want.

I cannot envision how Trump can win. America just seems too good for him. But in his ignorant bull in a china shop leadership style he has inserted an insidious thread of “un-American thoughts” under the guise of “what makes America great” which actually threatens the foundation of the republic.

He is a false prophet to people who have real grievances.

It creates a challenge for the Clinton presidency. But a challenge worth taking on.

She will have to ignore Trump and listen to these people.

While I believe she will be a good president and will offer the country some good pragmatic actionable ideas I believe her presidency will ultimately be defined by how well she listens to what she referred to as “the deplorables” and invests in their lives enough so that they no longer act in deplorable ways. And, maybe mos importantly, she invests in words & thoughts to fill the spaces in people’s minds with good & ‘right’ thoughts.

Regardless.

Thank god the debates are over.

ADDENDUM:

Speaking of closings … last evening was a charity event in which both Trump & Clinton light hearted jabbed at themselves and each other. Some jabs were good and some feel flat.

I don’t care. It was a charity event.

However. Clinton chose to close her lighthearted comments by shifting into a more serious presidential-like message.

I will admit. Most times her speaking is too measured and too earnest for my tastes.

But. She has what I call “a presidential gear.” She shifts gears. She looks slightly more focused and her voice drops down and flattens her vowels and rounds out her consonants.

And when she does that and has the right words? Yowza. And she chose to do so at the close of this dinner and hit a frickin’ grand slam home run.

It was a fabulous message for a fabulous country working through a fabulously difficult time. I cannot find all the words online but she reminded the audience that the namesake of the dinner, Al Smith, faced prejudice for being Catholic and that many of the dinner’s attendees were immigrants or children of immigrants and said:

“There is nothing funny about the stakes in this election. In the end, what makes this dinner important are not the jokes we tell, but the legacy we carry forward. It is often easy to forget how far this country has come, and there are a lot of people in this room tonight who themselves, or their parents or grandparents, came here as immigrants, made a life for yourselves, took advantage of the American dream and the greatest system that has ever been created in the history of world.

Divisive rhetoric makes it harder for us to see each other and listen to each other, and certainly a lot harder to love our neighbor as ourselves.”

In this post maybe I am suggesting you can actually build your own starry night sky

I mean … what the hell … most of us are not astronomers and most of us do not have telescopes and I imagine an even fewer of us actually count all the stars in the sky.

So how do we know that each time we take a mental picture of a moment that another star isn’t added to our night sky?

Practically speaking I imagine that sounds silly.

But from an empowering Life perspective? Shit. It sounds anything but silly.

It sounds … well … fucking good.

It sounds … well … like I own a part of the night sky.

It sounds … well … like every night I can look up and my life makes up part of the beauty of that which is a starry night sky.

I like the thought.

I like the thought that every moment we take a mental picture we hang a new star in the night sky and that each night, if we choose to look up, we can see our moments flickering and sparkling above us to wish for more, to simply admire what is there and hope that someone somewhere is wishing on one of our memorable moments for themselves.

And you know what I may like the most?

I could pick a room and hang picture after picture from the ceiling and make believe they are the stars I have built in my own Life sky.

“He who wants to persuade should put his trust not in the right argument, but in the right word.

The power of sound has always been greater than the power of sense.”

–

Joseph Conrad

====

“Speech is power: speech is to persuade, to convert, to compel.”

–

Ralph Waldo Emerson

====

Well.

With an election going on all you have to do is turn on the television or go to any news website and you will see someone giving a speech. Great oration is a skill … almost an art. Some people are naturals. More people are not.

But.

Having given some presentations in my lifetime, as well as provided some training, let me share one of the biggest secrets to presenting … if you have a great speech it is easy to present it.

In business we spend so much time trying to train someone on ‘how to present comfortably’ and ‘tricks’ to connect with an audience that it masks what presenting & speeches have in common with social media – content is the key.

Give me the best speech in the world and the worst presenter can give it.

Conversely … even the best presenter will stumble over the worst speech.

I thought of this as I watched several presidential candidates give a post mortem speech after the Tuesday elections.

I watched Rubio <sadly, yet defiantly, dropping out of the race>, Kasich <touched by a win in his own state>, Clinton <stepping up to the bigger beast in the room – Trump> and … well … the beast himself.

I won’t go into specifics of the four speeches but let me say that Rubio & Clinton must have great speech writers. Poetry and prose mixed with aspirations & hope & pragmatic expectations.

By the way … that is incredibly tough to do in a speech.

Very very few people can write that stuff.

Kasich speeches are easy to write because he has some common themes that come from his core beliefs & values. But suffice it to say that all three of those speeches were about ‘we the people’, what ‘we’ can do together, the spirit at the core of a country, hope for something better … and a dose of caution to not be enticed by the easier road of frustration, fear & hate.

And the only “we” incorporated in were the stupid people who were losers or the enemy peering over the gates like China, Islam & Mexico <who he is gonna punch>.

It was all about his polls, his numbers, and him.

The contrast between speeches is stunning.

Everyone else talks about the people and attitude and spirit … he talks about how popular he is and … well … how stupid everyone is because we are losing too much.

The difference between the words, tone and attitude of the speeches was … well … truly stunning.

Anybody in business who writes presentations and gives speeches knows the Trump speech path is ultimately a dead end. People like to hear confidence & strong leadership but they want to feel participation and connection.

Solutions are always preferred to problems.

Implying people together is always preferred to tearing people apart.

Suffice it to say that without a grander purpose, something beyond an “outcome” objective <like a ‘win’> a speech only leads everyone down a dead end path.

A speech should attempt to find that sweet spot of prose, real facts, anecdote and the commitment to a greater purpose. People deserve to hear the good and it shouldn’t be overwhelmed by any bad.

Trump offers speeches carved on … well … tombstones and not hearts.

===

“Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones.

A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you.”

―

Shannon L. Alder

===

I love words and I love hearing a great speaker give a great speech. While Trump may be one of the most comfortable people I have ever seen behind a podium and a microphone he also may be one of the worst speech writers I have ever heard.

Give me the good, the hopeful, the commitment to a higher purpose any day of the week. And I honestly believe most people want to hear that.

Great speeches, given well, lift people up off of the easy angry, resentful, blame-paved path and let us fly when we don’t even realize we can fly.

Anyway.

I can write an okay speech <I have two posts coming up – one on writing a presentation and one on giving a presentation … as if there aren’t enough “how to” garbage already available online>.

But I am honest enough to know that even on my best day and in my best speech writing moment I may only get a glimpse of what a great speech writer can accomplish.

As I share that thought I remember a nice little scene from West Wing where Toby <the chief communications director> comments on Presidential State of the Union speeches and who can write them. He suggests there are maybe 6 or so in the country that can do so. I will not haggle over the number but suffice it to say he is correct … great speechwriters are few and far between.

This also means the everyday schmuck <think … “you & I”> writes a generally crappy speech <even though we all think it is great>.

I believe I am in the minority in this thinking.

I think many people <more than can actually do it> believe they write great speeches.

Maybe worse for the business world is that I think many businesses believe too many of their own people should, and can, write speeches.

Look.

As a word guy I want to teach & coach everyone to use words well & wisely.

But, in business, it is … well … business.

This is not a popular thought in the current business world view of collaboration & empowerment but I believe businesses should identify their great speechwriters and empower them to write the business speeches.

What this means is that some people end up delivering speeches written by other people.

This freaks a shitload of people out.

I actually believe they get freaked out for two main reasons:

<1> conceptually it fights the internal “I am best at delivering shit in my own words … words I would use”. The key here is ‘conceptually’. Good words are good words and good thoughts are good thoughts. The kind of words you would actually use shouldn’t change the meaning of a great speech or presentation. But we freak out nonetheless … even before we even see the speech

<2> pragmatically most business presentations and speeches are written by crappy writers therefore I do end up freaked out just by looking at what I am being asked to speak. This is beyond the ‘corporate speak’ stench that emanates from every hallway in every business. That is just business crap. a great speech has order and ebbs & flows and seamlessly slides from point to point. Most businesses do not have a shitload of people who can do that.

In business … you almost cannot pay a great speechwriter or great presentation writer enough money. If you have one in your organization you should treat them like gold.

Anyway.

Within a great speech there is often a paragraph or a line that you know is great even as it slips across your lips:

Clinton’s line about Trump … “it doesn’t make him strong … it makes him wrong.”

Kasich’s indirect jab at Trump … “I will not take the low road to the highest office in the land.”

But the greatest of the great speeches cross over into some unseen universe of euphoria. As a listener you listen, hear … and may not remember specifics but you remember how it made you feel.

Nowhere has this been showcased better than on the old television show West Wing.

For example … after a pipe bomb explodes at a university killing 44 people, including three swimmers, the president gives a speech that includes the following:

“… More than any time in recent history, America’s destiny is not of our own choosing. We did not seek nor did we provoke an assault on our freedoms and our way of life. We did not expect nor did we invite a confrontation with evil. Yet the true measure of a people’s strength is how they rise to master that moment when it does arrive. Forty-four people were killed a couple of hours ago at Kennison State University; three swimmers from the men’s team were killed and two others are in critical condition; when after having heard the explosion from their practice facility they ran into the fire to help get people out … ran ‘into’ the fire. The streets of heaven are too crowded with angels tonight. They’re our students and our teachers and our parents and our friends. The streets of heaven are too crowded with angels, but every time we think we have measured our capacity to meet a challenge, we look up and we’re reminded that that capacity may well be limitless. This is a time for American heroes. We will do what is hard. We will achieve what is great. This is a time for American heroes and we reach for the stars. God bless their memory, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.”

Or.

The explanation that the director of communications gives when discussing free trade:

Toby Ziegler:

You want to know the benefits of free trade? Food is cheaper.

Food is cheaper! Clothes are cheaper. Steel is cheaper. Cars are cheaper. Phone service is cheaper. You feel me building a rhythm here? That’s because I’m a speech writer – I know how to make a point.

It lowers prices, it raises income. You see what I did with ‘lowers’ and ‘raises’ there?

It’s called the science of listener attention. We did repetition, we did floating opposites, and now you end with the one that’s not like the others. Ready? Free trade stops wars. Heh, and that’s it. Free trade stops wars! And we figure out a way to fix the rest.

Words really do matter and, possibly even more important, words delivered well really matter. The wrong words and speech can kill the best idea. Back in 2012 I wrote about elections and words used well and made this point.

Regardless.

Speeches are not like stories. Just as presentations are not really stories.

Speeches are all about using words well to lift people from one place to another.

Yes, lift.

Speeches are not meant to lower themselves into the ordinary uncomfortable truths of what we feel. Speeches are meant to recognize the uncomfortable truths and then lift us above it so we can see a horizon where things are better … the comfortable truth that what is will not always be and what will be is better for you, me & everyone – that no one gets left behind.

Bottom line.

A great speech lets us see what will be and not what is. Anyone who writes a speech … and gives a speech … would do well to remember the wise words of Hugh McLeod … “the market for something to believe in is infinite.”